CRICKET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24491, 27 December 1940, Page 6

CRICKET

MATCH AGAINST CANTERBURY OTAGO IN GOOD POSITION LEAD ON FIRST INNINGS (Per United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 26. With only one day left for play, Otago is in a good position against Canterbury in the interprovincia) cricket match which began yesterday The weather was again perfect for play which was watched by a good crowd. Otago's last three wickets took the total to 298 after a rather slow exhibition of batting, but although the Canterbury batsmen were dismissed for only 237, their's was a much brighter display. In its second innings Otago has made 41 without loss, Knight especially batting brightly for the last half-hour, The three remaining Otago wickets added a further 95 runs this morning. G. Mills, who was in tor almost two hours for his 29 not out produced some neat strokes, but would take no risks, while Toomev also gave a solid display The most enterprising innings of the morning was that of Leader, who was one of the few batsmen to use his feet to get to the pitch of the ball The outstanding performance among the Canterbury bowlers was that of the young Sydenham left-hander. Burgess, who kept a consistently good length He took the remaining Otago wickets and finished the innings with six wickets for 52 runs off 20.7 overs. This was'an excellent performance for a slow bowler, and it was all the more meritorious since it was his first game in big cricket The Canterbury total may perhaps be disappointing considering the potential batting strength of the side. The outstanding innings was that of Roberts, who made his 59 not out, the highest individual score of the game so far, in less than an hour. His last-wicket stand with Westwood was the feature of the innings. He scored freely all round the wicket and his form was reminiscent of his play a few years ago, when big scores were always expected of him. From the outset the Canterbury batsmen scored quickly Hadlee. who has been in good form lately, went cheaply, while Uttley made his 35 in bright style, mainly with crisp shots through the covers. O'Brien appeared to be set when he was out to a weak stroke. Anderson made his runs in his usual confident style, and Cromb was going so well that it was a surprise when he was dismissed. Moynihan in his first big game made a promising start, but a bad stroke led to his downfall. The other two. Burgess and Scott, failed to get going. Chettleburgh handled his bowlers well. They were more hostile than those of Canterbury, and they were backed up by first-class fielding. Smith, a young left-hander, took most of the wickets, but he had some expensive overs. He kept a good length and needed careful watching. Begg, a medium right-hander, and Elmes, a left-hander, also bowled consistently, though more use was made of Leader, who was never expensive at any time. Chettleburgh, himself was a useful change with his slows. Scores:— OTAGO First Innings S. Duncan, lbw, b Cromb 27 A. R. Knight, lbw b Burgess *3 G. J. Robertson, c James, b Burgess 27 L. Smith, b Cromb *9 A. Edwards, b Westwood i° T. Chettleburgh, b Westwood j C J. Elmes, c Hadlee, b Burgess .. 14 c! D. Toomey, c and b Burgess .. .. 23 G. Mills, not out fi V. J. Leader, b Burgess N C. Begg, c O'Brien, b Burgess .. 6 Extras _fj Total 298 Bowling Analysis

Second Innings A. R. Knight, not out 28 S. Duncan, not out .. x £ Extras _ Total for no wickets .. .. 41 Bowling Analysis

CANTERBURY First Innings W. A. Hadlee, c Knight, b Elmes .. 9 K. F. M. Uttley, c Robertson, b Smith 35 F. P. O'Brien, c and b Smith 18 W. McD Andersop. c Duncan, b Elmes 39 1. B. Cromb, st Mills, b Chettleburgh 28 D. Moynihan, b Smith 19 V. James, b Begg .. .. 12 A. W. Roberts, not out 59 A. Burgess, b Smith 4 R. H. Scott, c Mills, b Leader .. .. 0 R. Westwood. c Robertson, b Begg .. 12 Extras 2 Total 237

OTAGO'3 SOUND ATTACK GOOD INNINGS BY ROBERTS (Special xo Daily Times) CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 20 Toomey and Mills, the not out batsmen, resumed Otago's innings and proceeded very sedately against the consistent bowling of Roberts, Westwood and Scott. They took the score to 242. when Burgess, who had relieved Scott, caught Toomey off his own bowling. It was a brilliant lefthand catch from a ball driven hard back and only inches off the ground. Leader •joined Mills and another 44 had been added when Burgess had a further success, bowling Leader round his legs. The end soon came, for Begg, in going for a big hit, was well held by O'Brien near the leg boundary. The 298 runs had taken nearly five hours and a-half to make Hadlee and Uttley opened the batting briskly for Canterbury, but In an hour they and O'Brien were all out for 67 The opening pair quickly ran the total to 28, but in Elmes's second over Hadlee snicked one into the slips, where Knighl held the catch. With O'Brien in. Uttley. continued aggressively, and Leader steadied the scoring a little, but when Smith came on he had an immediate success, having Uttley caught behind square-leg by Robertson, and two were down for 52. O'Brien had been scoring steadily, and Anderson was soon in double figures Only 15 runs had been added however, when O'Brien returned an easy catch to the bowler. Smith, who had now taken two for 14 Cromb's arrival was the signal tor a patch of fast scoring. Smith's fifth over cost 16 runs, of which Cromb took 11 and Anderson 5. Leader was still keeping the runs down, but Smith became somewhat expensive. The total reached 100 in 85 minutes with both batsmen into the twenties. Chettleburgh replaced Smith, and in- nis second over Cromb went forward to one and missed, and was smartly stumped by Mills The total was now 119 for four wickets. Moynihan was next and both he and Anderson used their feet well and the runs came at. a brisk rate.

A change to Smith and Elmes resulted in Anderson lifting a very short ball from Elmes to Duncan at cover-point. With five now out for 141 the position was not too good for Canterbury. James was next, and although Moynihan was dropped by Chettleburgh they survived till afternoon tea, when the totßl was 149. The break was fatal, however, for by the time 165 was reached both were out. Moynihan was bowled by Smith, and James clayed Begp. on lo his wickets. Roberts was in his best form, but neither Burgess nor Scott stayed long, and with nine down for 193 the end seemed near. Westwood, however, held his end up, and Roberts hit out freely. Frequent bowling changes did not stop him. With powerful shots all round the ground he raced to 50 in 45 minutes, and Westwood produced good scoring shots to reach double figures in less than half an hour. They had added 44 when Westwood lifted Begg to point, where Robertson held the catch. The side's 237 had taken onlv a little more than three hours With less than nalt an hour lett tor play. Knight and Duncan again opened for Otago. and gave the side a good start with 41 on without loss. Knight was the more aggressive, and had made 28 and Duncan 11, after an early chance to James off Westwood.

AUCKLAND v. WELLINGTON

HOME TEAM'S POOR DISPLAY

(Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON. Dec. 26. By superior all-round play to-day Auckland maintained the grasp which it secured on the game on the opening day of the match against Wellington, and at the close of play required only 62 runs to win with all the wickets in hand. There was a good attendance of spectators, who were disappointed with the display by the Wellington players with both bat and ball. In response to Wellington's first innings total of 143 Auckland continued its first innings to-day and reached 222, H. T. Pearson plaving a sterling innings for 70. Wellington, in its second innings on a firm wicket and with a fast outfield, could make only _ 150 and Auckland in the second innings scored 10 runs without loss. The Auckland bowling was definitely superior to the Wellington attack, Cleverley, Andrews. Weir and Burke all commanding respect. Scores:— AUCKLAND First Innings P. E. Whitelaw, lbw, b Parsloe . 1 G. W Burgess, c Norris. b Lamason 21 H. T. Pearson, b Parsloe .. • • 70 G. L. Weir, b Lamason 0 V. J. Scott, c Parsloe. b Downes .. 21 O. C. Cleal. c Burnette, b Parsloe 58 J. A. R. Blandford, b Downes .. 8 H. J. H. Harrison, lbw, b Parsloe 0 C. Burke, b Downes 2 D. C. Cleverley. run out .. . • 5 H. M. Andrews, not out 17 Extras 19

Total ■ ■ • 222 Bowling Analysis

Second Innings Whitelaw, not out 5 Burgess, not out 5 Total for no wickets .. 10 WELLINGTON First innings .. .. 143 Second Innings J. A. Standidge. st Blandford. b Cleverley • • • • 2 H. W. Osborn, b Weir 0 P. D. Wilson, c Cleverley. b Andrews 12 W, E. Norris, c Cleal. b Weir .. 48 D. S. Wilson, c Blandford. b Andrews 16 N. S. H. Burnette, lbw. b Andrews 44 J. R. Lamason. st Blandford. b Burke .. .. 7 T. S. Russ. lbw, b Burke ~ .. 0 C. K. Parsloe, b Weir 1 G. O. Rabone, c Blandford, b Andrews 8 T. A. Downes, not out 2 Extras 3 Total 150 Bowling Analysis

O. M. R. w Roberts .. 29 8 44 — Westwood .. .. 20 4 64 2 Scott .. .. 18 3 58 ' Cromb .. 15 3 45 2 Burgess .. 20.7 5 52 6

O. M. R. V* Roberts .. 3 — 19 — Westwood .. .. 3 — 15 — Burgess .. 1 — 1 — Anderson . • 1 4

Bowling Analysis O. M. R. W Begg . 9.6 1 43 2 Elmes .. . . 8 1 30 2 Robertson .. . . 1 — 11 — Leader . 14 3 31 1 Smith . 17 — 94 4 Chettleburgh . . 5 — 26 1

O. M. R. V\ Parsloe .. 21.5 3 62 4 Dowries .. 21 4 74 3 Lamason .. 8 0 30 2

Cleverley . Weir .. ■ Andrews Burke .. O. . 11 . 13 .. 12.4 .. 10 M. 0 4 1 2 R. 3D 32 45 26 W 1 3 4 2